Amazon may have launched the market for voice-activated, internet-connected speakers that you use around the house. But now that Google and Apple are eyeing the space, Amazon isn’t resting on its laurels.
In the two years since Amazon launched the original Echo, the company has expanded the product family with smaller and cheaper models including the Amazon Tap and Echo Dot. Just a few weeks ago, Amazon introduced a 2nd-gen Dot which sells for just $50.
And it looks like the company has big plans for expansion: the Amazon Alexa page at Amazon’s Jobs website shows there are more than 400 current job openings.
Alexa is Amazon’s voice-assistant platform which powers the Echo, Tap, and Dot products. But Alexa is also available through Amazon’s Fire TV and Fire TV Stick and third-party products including wearable devices like the Omate Rise 3G smartwatch and the Pebble Core, as well as smart home devices like the Triby speaker.
Amazon’s job postings include positions for software engineers, product managers, merchandizing experts, web developers, and a wide range of other specialties.
While Amazon wasn’t the first company to introduce voice-activated digital assistant software, the company currently has the home speaker space kind of to itself… for at least another day. Google is expected to launch its own Google Home connected-speaker at an event in San Francisco on October 4th.
Google first unveiled the product in May, but we should learn more about the official price, features, and launch date tomorrow… as well as more about what makes the new Google Assistant software that powers the device different from other digital assistant software like Amazon’s Alexa, Microsoft’s Cortana, and Apple’s Siri.
via recode
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I guess my tinfoil hat will keep me from getting any of these type of devices in my house. The idea of having everything said in the house being recorded and sent up to the cloud for processing makes my skin crawl.
Do you say “Alexa” at the start of every sentence you speak in your house?
I’m kinda hoping that someone will be able to hack together an in-home assistant using something along the lines of Intel’s Galileo. All the cool little shortcuts and automation with the voice processing done literally in-house.
I see one of 2 possibilities. (1) They made a breakthru in human voice processing. (2) They have money to invest/bet and are putting it on their fastest horse. I am thinking the latter.
No speakers or open microphones in my house.
yeah, i get that its a slippery slope. but if amazon or NSA wants to record my children ignoring me and my wife yelling at me, I say have at it.
I love the Echo and the two Dots I have and I ordered another Dot for funsies. Just staring to add lights and ceiling fan automation and I’m hooked!
amazon is a complete joke they are the crookedist most immoral company on the planet. i will NEVER buy amazon device NO MATTER WHAT THE PRICE and neither should anyone else
“Most immoral company on the planet”
Hmm. I suspect not.